Johnston's Building Inspector said Tuesday that the explosion at a landfill gas collection facility operated by Broadrock Renewables appears to have been caused by a faulty repair on a pipe that draws raw gas from the Central Landfill.
Building Inspector Ben Nascenzi said the repair of a hose outside the old Caterpillar building at 117 Shun Pike was not up to snuff, much like other concerns raised by town officials recently, prompting the $150 million gas collection facility to get served a cease and desist order, shutting it down, last week.
Fire Chief Timothy McLaughlin suggested that a build-up of static electricity inside the extraction pipe where it reduced from 16 in. to 8 in. could have contributed to the blast.
Those concerns were based on the use of duct tape, broomsticks and rope to support a makeshift hose that was reportedly venting untreated gas into the atmosphere.
Officials are now dealing with high levels of cyanide and methane gas at the scene, and a flare has been lit to burn off the gas that was being drawn from the now-exploded hose.
Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena said the town of Johnston has seized control of the facility and nobody will be allowed on or off the site without permission, including any employee of Broadrock.
The explosion occurred in a structure that predates and is separate from the large collection facility that was shut down by the town last week. With the explosion, the town is now seizing total control of the site.
Onlookers were pushed back from the scene by police due to the toxic gas concerns. Officials from the State Police are responding to help Johnston Police manage the scene and investigate, Polisena said.
Stay tuned for more updates. Joseph Hutnak contributed to this story.
Read more about the Landfill blast:
See the Site of the Landfill Gas Blast
Chafee Tours Landfill Blast Site
Polisena: Broadrock Site a 'Tragedy Waiting to Happen'
Officials Concerned about Cyanide after Gas Line Explodes at Broadrock
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
